Truss for hernia.



W. H. WILLSON.

TRUSS FOR HERNIA.

APPLICATION man 1mm. 1910.

Patented 131118, 1916.

@wm/WMM /ifg WILLIAM H. WILLSON, OF FOND DU LACJ WISCONSIN.

TRUSS FOR HERNIA.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed March 5, 1910. Serial No. 5475391.y

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WILLso-N,

M. D., a citizen of the United States, resid-k ing at Fond du Lac, county of Fond du Lac, and State of IVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trusses for Hernia, of which the following is a specilication. Y

My invention relates to improvements in trusses for hernia.

The object of my invention is to provide a. form of construction in which the pad or pads may be readily adjusted in conformity with the requirements of each individual case, and in which the pad, when .properly adjusted, will be held in position with uniform pressure irrespective of the movements or postures of the body.

In the following description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view of my improved truss as it appears in position of use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved truss. Fig. 3 is an edge or top view of a single pad truss embodying my invention.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The pad supporting frame A is preferably formed of wire, which is substantially inelastic but sufficiently flexible to permit it to be twisted or bent into any desired shape. It should also be of suflicient size and rigidity to retain, under conditions of use, any position into which it may have been bent, preparatory to such use. This frame is preferably formed by bending the wire so as to produce a pair of loops, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the central portion is secured to a connecting member B, which may receive and cover the ends of the wire which composes the pad supporting frame A. The pads C are preferably connected with the frame by clamping set screws D, the heads of which engage the outer surface of the frame A, as shown. By loosening these clamping set screws I), the pads may be adjusted longitudinally on the frame to the desired positions.

rIhe frame is secured to the body of thel wearer by a flexible band, which passes around the body in the form of a belt and which is composed of two elastic side menibers E and an adjustable rear member F, lwhich is preferably inelastic. The. front ends of this band are provided with hooked members Gr, which are adapted to detachably engage a curved spring H, centrally secured to the connecting member B and having its respective ends, (in normal position), curved outwardly from the pad supporting frame. The spring H is also preferably formed of wire, which is bent to provide a pair of loops, and which may have intermediate reinforcing clips I to prevent the wire loops from twisting when subjected to the pull of the belt.

When the device is applied to the body of the wearer, the belt will be tightened until the ends of the spring H are curved backwardly from their normal position into or nearly into the plane of the pad supporting frame A. This will apply the desired pressure to the pads through the connecting member B and the frame A. With this construction, the reaction of the spring H will incidentally take up any slack in the pull of the belt due to variations of body position without materially varying the pressure over the hernial opening. In fact, the action or reaction of the spring H will be sufficiently quick to prevent any material variations in pressure upon the pads due to contractions or relaxations of the abdominal muscles.

By having the back of the belt composed of comparatively inelastic material F, I avoid the discomforting effects of lateral tension on the sides of the body and by employing detachable hooks Gr to connect the belt with the spring H, it is obvious that the truss may be removed and replaced at pleasure without loss of time, since either end of the belt may be released by merely unhooking it from the spring.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the single pad C illustrated in said figure, is secured to a frame A, which may, if desired, be composed of wire having the same characteristics as the frame A illustrated in Figs. l and 2. A spring H corresponding in function with the spring H shown in the other views, has its inner end secured directly to the pad and to the frame A. In this construction, however, the frame A extends outwardly on one side only of the pad and the spring H extends outwardly on the other side. One end of the webbing E is secured to the frame A either permanently or detachably, as may be desired, and the other endis hooked over the lOt end of the spring H by a` member G corresponding with the member Gr in the other View. The webbing E is of elastic material and corresponds with the portions E ofthe band or belt, said band or belt being substantially the same in allvother respects as that shown in Figs.- 1 and 2.

It will be observed that the spring in my improved pad extends outwardly from the supporting memberin a ,curve which is conf Vex on its inner side and concave on its outer side. A spring curved in this manner bends principally at its outer end and freely so that it has no tendency to rock or tilt the pad or pads upon the surface against which they bear.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l.v In-a truss of the described class, the combination of a` pad supporting frame formed of iexible and inelastic Wire loops having suiiicient rigidity to retain their shape when in use, pads adjustably mounted on said frame, clamping members arranged to holdV said pads in any desired position of adjustment, a spring centrally secured to said frame and provided with outwardly curving endportlonsand a belt scy cured to the respective ends of said spring.

2. In' a truss of the described class, the combination of a pad supporting frame formed of flexible and inelastic'wire loops having sufficient rigidity to retain their shape when in use, pads adjustably mounted on said frame, clamping. membersarranged to hold-said` padsin any desired position of adjustment, a spring centrally secured to said frame and provided with outwardly curving end portions and a belt secured to the respective ends of said spring, said spring being preferably formed of Wire and having a connecting member securing the central portions of the spring and pad supporting frame together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturel in the presence of two Witnesses.

Witnesses:

W. T. LAMB, Jos. L. GORMICAN.

. d: 'opi'es of this patent may 'be obtained fol` five cents each, by addressing the (ommissioner. OfPatents,

Washington, D. C. 

